As expected, a case from a fatal traffic crash was dismissed Tuesday, but new charges are coming against the 20-year-old driver.

Assistant Calhoun County Prosecutor Jim Jordan moved to dismiss charges against Ethan Everett in the crash that killed Jessica Lambert in 2015.

On Monday Circuit Court Judge John Hallacy denied a prosecution motion to adjourn the trial because two expert witnesses were away, one for a spring break vacation and the other called for a trial in Indiana.

Jordan appeared Tuesday morning with defense attorney J. Thomas Schaeffer and Hallacy asked if the prosecution was ready to proceed, noting that potential jurors were assembled and could be called into the courtroom to be questioned and selected.

During the three-minute hearing, Jordan again asked for an adjournment, which Hallacy denied, and then Jordan moved to dismiss the charges.

"Do you wish me to call the jury in?" the judge asked.

"No, we are not ready to proceed," Jordan said, and then moved to dismiss the case.

Schaeffer concurred and said "there comes a time when there is a violation of due process," he said. "This has been hanging over a young man's life for a long period of time. I realize the charges are serious but as a result he has had his life on hold too; school, a job and family."

Schaeffer asked that the charges be dismissed with prejudice, meaning they could not be reinstated by the prosecution.

But Hallacy denied that portion of the motion and both Jordan and later Prosecutor David Gilbert said a new warrant with identical charges was being issued Tuesday afternoon.

Everett is facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted of operating under the influence of liquor or drugs causing the death of Lambert. She died after her car was struck head-on by one driven by Everett on Sept. 20, 2015, crash on Verona Road near McAllister Road in Emmett Township.

The case was delayed four times in district court before Everett waived his preliminary examination. It was scheduled for trial six times in circuit court but delayed for a variety of reasons.

He remains free on bond.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson